Witches, Heretics & Warrior Women: Ignite Your Rebel Spirit through Magick & Ritual

by Phoenix LeFae

Filled with transformative stories of powerful women from legend and history--as well as rituals, spellcraft, and workings for you to try--this book explores themes that rebels, witches, warriors, and heretics confront as they make their way in a patriarchal world. Each chapter examines a topic like standing tall in your beliefs, finding your voice, embracing your sexuality, and loving your body, and shares hands-on practices designed to inspire and support you as you connect with your inner witch, heretic, and warrior. Within these pages, you will find stories and exercises based on Circe, Anne Boleyn, Marie Laveau, Mary Magdalene, Jeanne D'Arc, Salome, Boudicca, Moving Robe Woman, and Harriet Tubman.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Paganism, Spirituality, Feminism

242 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2022

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

“My way of teaching and talking about magical can sometimes come across as cheeky. This is not to everyone’s taste, and I get that.”

2 stars

Suffice to say this book is not my taste.

At all. I was so looking forward to this book, waiting to dive into it for the weekend before Samhain. The cover is gorgeous, and with the title and summary I thought I would get this intellectual mix of history and feminism. It more reads like a middle grade “girl power” self help/ self congratulatory text filled with exclamation points. It insults the reader’s intelligence in a lot of places and uses words like “babe”, “honey”, and friends to reference the reader, and constantly ends sections with some sort of exclamation like, “Accept your personal badassery and rock your rebel heart out!”. It’s repetitive, borders on cultural appropriation in parts, and makes you feel like you’ve just sat through a four hour seminar with motivational Barbie as the guest speaker. There is a plethora of misdefined words, hilariously enough including “toxic positivity”. Even if you like the kind of pat your own back self help books, there are much better ones to read.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I initially wanted to read this book because I saw it would have chapters about Circe, Anne Boleyn, Marie Laveau, Mary Magdalene, Jeanne D'Arc, Salome, Boudicca, Moving Robe Woman, and Harriet Tubman but other than the few things that were said about these women, I didn't particularly like it. The writing just wasn't it for me. It was all very repetitious and made me cringe a lot. Also, the chapter about Marie Laveau didn't feel exactly right to have written the way she did.

Senn Annis was the narrator. I didn't dislike her narration especially but it wasn't also the best I've ever heard, to be honest.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would summarize this book is as an entry aimed at those new to witchcraft with a New Age slant.. I honestly disliked this book. It's total fluff. It is similar to other books in this category. The cover and format are very appealing, as are the illustrations and the font. It is different from other books in this category as it does help the reader explore the self, goals, and motivations.
While some of the basic information is oft-repeated in books for new witches, it is more appealing to modern readers..
Anne Boleyn and Marie LaVeau didn't seem like the best entries for this book and I did question if LaVeau's entry could be considered cultural appropriation. Mary Magdalene was a definite stretch. The car left the highway at that point. Joan of Arc was definitely too. much and over the cliff this book went.
Stick with goddesses or those actually known as witches. I put it down completely when I found the entry on Joan of Arc.

[Melissa Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure- I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The mix of magic spell work & history is a really refreshing addition to the book. Each chapter has meditations, spells, and a historical woman to go with.

I do wish the history parts were a little more fleshed out, but that’s cause I’m a huge history buff.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in magic & witchcraft.

[Raven Wells · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is aimed as a book for a rebel spirit and the author points out early that her style isn’t for everyone. Im definitely in that crowd.

The majority of the book reads like the motivational speaker yelling at you to follow their teaching. It’s choppy and a bit much.

The inspirational women? For a book aimed at witches, there aren’t any. The majority of women would never use the term and are more so Christian women. Definitely not my thing. I don’t care to honor Mary Magdalene or Salome. It’s strange to include Anne Boleyn. It truly boarders on appropriation to include Marie Laveau and Moving Robe Woman.

The content is aimed at the young feminist witches still early in the Craft. The content is very selective and makes me question who the intended audience is. Practically everything in this book should be viewed as bias and requires further research.

I was left wondering why, for a book on honor Witches, there were zero examples for modern women Witches? If the requirement is that they are dead, there are a few. It seemed strange to have so many examples, yet none actually use the title of Witch.

Overall, not my style of book. I’m very grateful the library had this so I didn’t waste my money on it. If you are entering into the activist feminist stage of your life (as most of us have at some point usually after high school), you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, save yourself the time and money, and skip this one.

[Ophelia Feyre · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. The cover and the title are beautiful - it had so much potential, but it fell really flat for me. From the beginning I didn’t get along with the author’s writing style. It was a little too cheesy and cringe.

I started to get bored as there was a tendency to repeat ideas and phrases. Then when she brought up the ‘witch wound’ I’d practically turned off. I skipped through to the bits I hoped would be better - the actual information about the Witches, Heretics and Warrior Women, but it still disappointed. I feel like a lot of the information was taken out of context or moulded in a way to fit the author’s narrative.

I had high hopes for the book, but it didn’t live up to expectations. I won’t be buying a physical copy for my collection.

[I read an E-ARC through NetGalley]

[Astrea Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to read an advance copy of this book and I was blown away by the amazing examples of these three archetypes. The practices for each chapter were innovative and deep. The experiences from them were transformative, and they resonated with me and allowed me to feel a stronger sense of those archetypes. I absolutely loved it.

[Marie Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been exploring mysticism, spiritualism, tarot and rituals for about a year now and when I found this book up for review I felt it was destiny. My earliest blog backgrounds will find mostly historical based reads both fiction and non-fiction but it all started with Anne Boleyn. We would now recognize that name due the success of the tv show The Tudors, but I was intrigued by Anne Boleyn’s witchy rumors. Years later I am still fascinated by Anne Boleyn and her ability to turn heads before she lost hers.



The author Phoenix LeFae chose Anne as just one of the many warrior-witch women to highlight in her new book to draw inspiration from. Ohers are a New Orleans legend Marie Laveau, Joan of Arc, Circe, and Harriet Tubman to name a few.

The premise of the book is not to be a biographical account of these women but to highlight how these women were revolutionaries for their time and in their own way.

This work reads more like opinions and the author’s personal view on how to mold yourself into a rebel/witch/warrior using these women as examples. The author provides tools and helpful insight on how to be a proponent of positive change in the world around you while incorporating rituals, meditations and even charm bags. I do not feel like this is a reference book on witchcraft and magick but is instead geared towards inspirational self-care and how to shed the goal of fitting into the patriarchal society of the modern world. For that alone this book is worthwhile if that is the path you are embarking on. With the intriguing women she chose as a backdrop this is an “opportunity to learn more about each of their lives and connect with their power.” Very enjoyable read that is recommended for those interested in the feminist movement with a touch of magick sprinkled in.

[MariaIsoldde · Rating 4 out of 5]

In general, I found the book to be interesting, but the first half was not my favorite. Basically, it regurgitates a lot of what you're going to read. Additionally, it gives you the same propaganda femininity that you find in a lot of metaphysical empowerment books for women. Mind you, not everything she says in the first half of the book is like that.

This book opened my eyes to all these historical and folklore characters that have intricate and interesting stories. It felt like I was getting to know them and I could relate to a lot of what happened to them. It was very nice of her to write about toxic positivity and the law of attraction. People can abuse it and use it as a form of gaslighting if they take it to extremes. Additionally, she tells you that it's okay if you are a different type of witch. As a result, there is no right or wrong way to practice if you differ from others. Something that I have had an issue with for many years with other witches.

This may be the book for you if you're looking for feminine empowerment books. It doesn't overdo the whole girl power feminist agenda. But at the same time, it doesn't water down the importance of embracing that feminine power that is within you whether you are male or female.

[Heather Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was book was just okay, it felt like it had a bit of an identity crisis, try to be too many things at once - introduction to witchcraft, self help, folklore, magical journey techniques. And the author's premise constrained her writing. What I was looking for was a combo of history and folklore focused on women and magic and to some degree I got that. Some sections were much better than others. Some sections felt forced. For example the section on Ann Boleyn felt really forced and focused more on the author's fantasy of Ann rather than the real woman. The sections on plant and animal allies felt shoehorned in. I really like the concept of calling on powerful women to help in your practice and this book does a really good job of showing how to do that. The meditations, journeying, and reflections were interesting and something I can see myself going back to, and provides a blueprint for working with other historical women. I enjoy the author's tone, but I could see where some people might find it off putting. If you're new to witchcraft I would recommend this as a book to help you get started, if like me you've been practicing for years a good portion of this book could be skipped but the meditations are worth exploring.

[Fuchsia Rascal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and how it was formatted. The introduction chapters aren't too "Witchcraft 101" to lose experienced practitioners, but are simple enough for people newer to the craft. Then, the book is split into three sections: you guessed it, each focused on witches, heretics, and warrior women. Each section examines the life of three different historical or legendary figures who were given that title, and a few exercises on what lessons and introspection we can learn from them and the values they embodied. I would have loved longer chapters on each woman's life and mark on the world, but as each individual could have an entire book written on her (and do!), it's understandable that each was pared down to a few pages. As for the magic side, while the meditation exercises were pretty much the same from chapter to chapter, just a different specific focus on that person's virtues, the other activities are varied and interesting. And while the writing touched on being a little too casual for me at times, overall it was written in an easy to read style and I breezed through it. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it was mine.

[Ginath13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate and thankful to be given an arc of this book being published by Llewelyn. LeFae writes about the importance of being a rebel. If everyone follows the status quo, nothing will every change or evolve. It is also important to "know thyself". With this in mind, the author leads us on an exploration of nine women from the past that were considered warriors, rebels, witches, and heretics in societies where these things were not valued but feared and condemned. All nine women went against societal expectations of them and followed their own path; these include Joan of Arc, Mary Magdalene, and Anne Boleyn.
Each section is followed by a contemplation exercise and ritual so that we may connect with the power that each of these women represent. Whether you are interested in making these connections or engaging in these contemplation exercises or not, the tales of each of these warrior women are fascinating and worth a read.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to review this book first because I love the cover. But as I started reading, it has a lot of encouraging information to find your own empowerment by the examples of women in the past. Each chapter gives a brief history of past women demonstrating their beliefs as Witches, Heretics, and Warrior Women (the examples of each type), with exercises at the end of each chapter for your own reflection and practice. While some of the information was repetitive, I ultimately found this book to be interesting and helpful and a good reference.
I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

[Tyesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s very rare that I am completely indifferent to a book I read. This is one of those books. I liked that there are profiles of legendary women living the lives of rebels. That being said, the phrase ‘witches, heretics and warrior women’ is repeated far too many times. It annoyed me and made the book feel cheesy. There were some bits that were on point. One of them is the ‘Us vs. Them’ mentality that is bred into American culture. I would say this would be a great library book, not one to go back to over and over again.

[Liliana Santos]

I was expecting more from this book. I found the concept really interesting and full of potential, but the writing stopped me from loving this book as much as I planned to. I also think certain things here should not be promoted without heavy researching, like voodoo, which is a closed practice and not meant for everyone. The author also sounded aggressive and condescending at times, something I didn´t enjoy. Overall, I still think that it has good elements but I´m leaving this book disappointed.

[CraftyKE · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world where so many people want to quiet your voice, this book is a refreshing light. It is inspiring and empowering. I love a quick read that you want to reference again and again. Phoenix LeFae really knocked this one of our of the Park and I will be checking out her other work.

What I loved:
- stories LeFae chooses to share, mose about well known women
- holistic look at womanhood

Thank you to Phoenix LeFae and Netgalley for gifting me an ARC. It in no way affected the outcome of this review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is, to use the authors word, cheeky. It’s cute. Sometimes too cute. The path workings are solid for beginners. I’m an experienced practitioner so I am not this books target market, which is fine. My biggest oh no was that the author used a mass market occult book written by a white man as reference material for Harriet Tubmans biography rather than the abundance of scholarly sources that are available and many of which are written by Black historians. It seemed like an intellectually lazy move.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book, and it's exactly what you'd expect based on the title. The beginning discusses definitions of witches, heretics, and warrior women -- and why we care about them and look up to them. The bulk of the book contains chapters of each of these three archetypes. Each archetype has three chosen women who each get their own chapter, for a total of nine women from history and mythology. What I liked most about this book was the little history lessons about each woman and the rituals/exercises included for each one. I like the idea of drawing knowledge and strength from themes of each woman's life and connecting with them through ritual, meditation, and self reflection. Some of these women I was familiar with (like Joan of Arc), but I enjoyed learning about some historical women that I'd never heard of (Moving Robe Woman?!). I also appreciate that each section first began with a small exploration of the archetype and how these are reflected in our modern day lives. Overall, this was a well-put-together book, just a bit shorter than I was expecting. I would have loved to see many more women of each archetype included here.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was okay. I think the book is more recommended for beginners. It was a quick read for me and there were a few good points in the book. There was a part I liked learning about wood energy. I did like the stories about the different women in the book and I guess I wanted to read more historical events about the women. The writing style definitely felt like the author was talking to me, and very casual, which is fine. But I think for some readers, it could be off-putting.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's the perfect addition to your metaphysical section of your reference section. Truly an great ready and is wonderful if you'd like to increase your knowledge about witchcraft. It also includes new tips to help you perfect your craft! I enjoyed alot of the backstories. A lovely, weekend read.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down one of the best books I have read in awhile! I feel so much more empowered and have added some new things to my practice based on this book. I loved the stories of women throughout history as well. I highly recommend this book to every woman reading this review and in my own circle.

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This book was a powerful feeling of self-awareness and Awakening for me. I needed to come out of the shadows of the life that I lived before getting out of the toxic situation. It helped me want to walk more in the light and not be held back. I did enjoy the exercises for they helped me move forward. The stories were wonderful to read.

[Alexandra Loba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I was recommended this book from one of my favorite people, I feel like this was repetitive for those who wanted a more in depth overlook on the topic at hand. I feel like the time spent with each historical figure was time wasted and could’ve been utilized to explain more in depth about them. Other than that, it was okay.

[Annarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was attracted by the cover and found some parts interesting. Other were too new age or simply didn't feel right to me.
As for the historical characters not all of them were rebel
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Mandi Harrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!! Absolutely loved this book and it was a quick read!

[Casht · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 <3

[Aura · Rating 2 out of 5]

All I gotta say.... disappointed af.

[Ivy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who should read this?
Witchcraft Beginners or those thinking about getting into Witchcraft.

Pros:
Teaches us about empowering women throughout History and how we can call on them for aid, Great for beginners

Cons:
If your a little more advanced in your practice, there’s not really any new information that your gonna learn in this book (other than the amazing history behind a lot of amazing women which, don’t get me wrong, is great!).

Review:
I got this book in one of my monthly witchy subscription boxes and I had such high hopes for it. The Book Box is geared toward more intermediate to advanced witches so I was expecting a intermediate or advanced book and this book just wasn’t that. She goes over the very basics: Wands, Cauldrons, Journaling, Spell Charm Bags. Nothing new and nothing I don��t already know.
Needless to say, it wasn’t a very exciting read for me. I was expecting to learn about how to empower myself more, be more confident in who I am and my sexuality but unfortunately, I just didn’t get that. The reason why I gave it 2 stars is because of the amazing history we learned behind some of these women: Marie Laveau, Circe, Mary Magdalene, Moving Robe Woman, among others. These stories were very inspiring and I loved the meditation and journaling prompts behind them. However, there are a few women I didn’t really have in interest in connecting with: Boudicca being one of them.
To me, (keep in mind: these are my personal opinions!) Marie Laveau felt like a powerful figure that you should only meditate with if you plan on working with her more consistently, so I didn’t follow the meditation for her either (although I do truly love her story).
If I was a beginner, I believe I would have gotten a lot more use of this book and I would have ate it up and probably have ranked it 4 or 5 stars. If your a beginner, I do highly recommend this book. If your a little more advanced though, you may just want to skip this book.

Final Rating:
⭐️⭐️/ out of 5 Stars

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featuring the stories of powerful women from history, legend and myth, this book is definitely different from other witchcraft books I’ve read so far.

The style might not be for everyone and the good thing about it is that the author is well aware of this and she underlines it straight away in the premise. This book reads more like a self-help book, despite containing a few informations about the witch’s basic tools (cauldron, wands and so on), a few spells and charm bags, plenty of journaling prompts and guided trances during which you’re invited to meet the women the books is dedicated to. Among them, you’ll find Circe, Anne Boleyn, Marie Laveau, Mary Magdalene, Jeanne D’Arc, Salome, Boudicca, Moving Robe Woman and Harriet Tubman.

If you’re expecting an accurate history book, I think you’ll be disappointed, mainly because the majority of the women portrayed in the book are, still to this day, enveloped in mystery and myth: the book feeds a bit into the speculation that some of these women faced when they were suspected of being witches, while associating witchcraft with some of the other women mentioned might feel like a stretch.

Still, I think that if you take the book for what is meant to be (an empowering read mainly aimed at entry level feminists), I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. It was truly a feel-good type of book for me and I believe there’s nothing wrong with that.